Making the collection

 

I have to be careful when I begin a sentence with, "I collect..." I tend to be obsessive about acquiring things. Which is why it is good that I sell as much as possible on eBay (despite the assholes).  Obviously, I have had an interest in Elvis for years that waned when I discovered it doesn't appreciate in value and millions of everything about Elvis are out there.

I also collect things I am interested in like anything associated with New Orleans. I, of course, collect Tiki mugs and things related to them. I have a bit of a fascination with pirates (I think it is the beard thing). And I have lately been accumulating spiritual objects and figures such as Buddha, Kwan Yin, Ganesha, Mary, Jesus and the occasional saint.  Yet, I am about as non-religious as can be.

I also dabble in collecting tribal masks, Mexican art and Native American art.

Of course, there are my guitars. 

Over the years I have also been a bit obsessed with swords, knives and bayonets. I particularly like antique swords. I swear I was a soldier in a past life and I wouldn't be surprised if I died by a sword in one of my incarnations. I get a bit squeamish at the thought of being cut.  But at the same time I am fascinated by blades. 

I wonder what Freud would say about that.

Being a collector, I am drawn to things at Thrift stores that feed one of my collections. Because if something doesn't sell, at least I can add it to my collection. The problem is that  I am running out of space and even I have limits to how much clutter I can tolerate.

So I selectively take things back to Goodwill...except for guitars, Tiki mugs, swords and Elvis.  I've got to draw the line somewhere.